In an enchanted French chateau, Florian edges toward madness. Cursed by his jealous twin to a slow, disfiguring death, his only hope is true love’s kiss. But even if he could find a girl to love him, he could never love her back. Meanwhile, in the Marseilles slums, Ren works tirelessly to keep his family from starvation-and to avoid the drugs, gangs, and prostitution his childhood friends have succumbed to.

When one of his late father’s ships turns up, cargo intact, it seems Ren’s family’s fortunes are improving. Instead, a double-dealing agent and a stolen rose land Ren in Florian’s chateau as his prisoner.

Bitterly at odds, the boys at first seem doomed. As time passes, though, they learn that love wears many faces, words have many meanings, and even curses aren’t set in stone. But can they break the one consuming Florian before it destroys them both?